Study of celestial objects, space, and the physical universe.
Exoplanets are planets that orbit stars outside our Solar System. Thanks to advanced telescopes, astronomers have found thousands of these distant worlds, some of which may have the right conditions for life.
Scientists look for tiny dips in a star’s brightness when a planet passes in front of it, or for the wobble in a star’s movement caused by an orbiting planet’s gravity.
Astronomers search for planets in the “habitable zone,” where temperatures might allow liquid water to exist. They also study atmospheres for gases like oxygen or methane that could hint at life.
Discovering exoplanets helps us answer the big question: Are we alone in the universe?
The Kepler Space Telescope found over 2,600 confirmed exoplanets.
The TRAPPIST-1 system contains seven Earth-sized exoplanets.
Exoplanets are planets outside our Solar System, and discovering them helps us search for life elsewhere.